Maternity garment



Feb. 20,1945. H s KOHLER 2,370,049

MATERNITY GARMENT Filed Feb. 27, 194:5

4 Patented Feb. 2t), 1945 UNITED STATES. rATsNT OFFICE MATERNITY GARMENT Harriet S. Kohler, Westport, Conn. Application February 27, 1943, Serial No. 477,391

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in maternity garments, and relates more particularly to a novel maternity undergarment or slip having attached waist and skirt portions.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an improved slip designed particularly, though not exclusively, for prospective mothers which will permit instant adjustment to the varying figure of the wearer, and which, at the same time, Will possess the advantage, so far as comfort and general appearance are concerned, of ordinary garments of fixed proportions.

Maternity garments are generally of two types, those which are provided with a plurality of easily removable, stitched vertical pleats or overlaps which can be opened, one at a time, as the figure increases in girth, by ripping the stitching, and those of the wrap-around variety which initially provide a considerable overlapping portion which is gradually diminished. Both of these types of garments have been open to numerous objections. The former type becomes gradually distorted as the pleats are opened, and the latter type causes bunching at various points and the result is generally an ill-fitting and uncomfortable garment.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved maternity garment having a continuous skirt portion and an attached, discontinuous upper portion which may be gradually enlarged without the necessity of opening of scams or otherwise altering the garment, and Without causing any distortion or illfitting.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a broken front elevation of the garment of the present invention, the view showing a portion of the side of the garment as well.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but shows the upper portion of the garment in partially opened posinon.

Fig. 3 is a broken rear elevation of the garment.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the several blanks forming the pattern of the garment.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the garment consists of a plurality of blanks, 8, 9, H], H, l2 and 13. Blank 8 forms the entire rear section of the garment and includes a lower edge l4 and inwardly inclined, substantially vertical, slightly concave side edges i5 terminating at their upper ends at points It. This slightly curved edge I5 is inclined inwardly to point ll which is adjacent to the waist line of the garment, and thereafter is inclined outiii) wardly to point 16. From points IS on each side of the garment, the blank is inclined inwardly along substantially straight edges l8 to uppermost points l9 and 2| on opposite sides of the garment. Between points l9 and 2|, edge 20 is conoavely curved and forms the upper edge of the back of the garment. This edge may also be V shaped, or otherwise. This entire blank is formed entirely on the straightof the material, and in order to obtain the desired fitting qualities in this rear garment section, a plurality of tucks or pleats 22, shown in Fig. 3, are formed in the blank, such pleats extending substantially the same distance above and below the waist line of 1 wise formed on the straight of the material.

Blank it includes a substantially straight edge 34 of approximately the same length as edge 29 of blank 9 (except as hereinafter noted). Edge 29 and 3d are joined together to form stitch line 36 in the finished garment. Blank l0 further includes a somewhat concave edge 37 opposite edge 34 terminating in a short, narrow extension 38, and an inwardly disposed edge 39, generally straight in contour, terminating at point 40. .It also includes a generally concave edge 4| terminating at point 42, and is completed with a substantially straight edge 43' running from point 42 to point 44 at the upper end of edge 34. The grain of the material in blank 10 is generally parallel with edge 34, thus placing the blank on a distinct bias relative to the front median line of the garment.

Blank H includes a generally convex edge 41 of substantially the same length and complemental in contour with edge 4| in blank I0, such two edges being joined together to form stitch line 48, thus forming the upper bust-encircling portion of the garment on the right side thereof, when viewed from the front. This blank further includes a short edge 49 which is joined to the upper portion of edge 39 in blank 10 to form a short stitch line 50. From the outer end of edge 49, the blank extends upwardly, forming edge 5| which terminates at its upper end at point 52, edge 5| constituting the upper edge of the righthand portion of the garment. A shoulder strap 53 joins terminal 52 at the front of the garment with terminal 2| at the back of the garment. Edge 54 of blank II, and one edge I8 of blank 8, form the under-arm edges of the garment, such edge 54 extending from point 52 to point 55, and final edge 56 extending downwardly to the lower end vf edge 4'! is joined along with edge 43 of blank ID and edge 26 of blank 9 to the righthand edge I of blank 8, thus forming a continuous side seam 58 in the finished garment extending from top to bottom. The grain of the material in blank I I may lie substantially parallel with, or, if desired, at a slight bias to, the grain of the material in blank I0.

Blank I2 includes a substantially straight edge 60 which is joined to edge 28 in blank 9 to form stitch line BI at the left front of the garment, a short edge 52, a concave edge 63, a generally straight edge 54, and a slightly concave edge 65 whose contour is generally similar to that of edge 31 in blank I 0. Edges 65 and 64 terminate in a narrow extension 66. Final blank I3 includes a convex edge III which is joined to edge 63 to form stitch line H, an upwardly-inclined edge I2, an inwardly-inclined edge 73, a slightly convex edge 14, and a short edge 15, which latter is joined to the upper portion of ed e 64 in blank I2 to form stitch line 16. Edges 72 of blank I3, 62 of blank I2, and 26 of blank 9 are joined to lefthand edge I5 in rear blank 8 to form a side seam at the left-hand side of the garment similar to side seam 58 at the right-hand side. The underarm section of the garment on the left-hand side is defined at the front by edge I3 in blank I3, and edge I8 on the left-hand side of the garment in blank 8. The grain of the material in each of blanks I2 and I3 may lie generally similar to the grain of the material in blanks I0 and II,

thus producing the desired bias effect in the front waist-encircling portion of the garment.

On the left-hand side of the garment, a shoulder strap 80 joins upper point 8| of blank I3 with point I9 in rear blank 8. It will be noted that edge 34 of blank I0, and edge 29 of blank 9, are shown in Fig. 4 as being of substantially the same length, and the same is true of edge 60 of blank I2 and edge 28 of blank 9. In order to give the garment slightly better fitting qualities, edges 29 and 28 of blank 9 should be slightly longer than edges 34 and 60 in order to permit generally triangular tucks or darts 85 to be formed at the front of the garment. The same is true of edges 41 and ID of blanks II and I3, respectively, thus permitting the formation of short darts or tucks 86 on opposite sides of the garment through the bust-encircling portions. Extensions or straps 38 and 86 may be adjustably secured adjacent to the rear of the garment by any suitable means such, for instance, as a button 90 secured at the outer terminal of strap 38, and the left-hand side of the garment, when viewed as in Fig. 1, may have a plurality of spaced buttonholes (not shown). Likewise, strap may have a button SI which is received in one of a plurality of buttonholes 92. If desired, the button and buttonhole arrangement may be eliminated and snap fasteners may be used, or the straps may be made longer and may be merely tied together, in which instance it would be necessary to have an aperture in the garment to permit one of the straps to pass therethrough.

It is obvious that blanks I0 and II on one side of the garment, and I2 and I3 on the other side, respectively, which are similarly shaped, could be formed in one piece, although there is a distinct advantage in making the blanks in two pieces, in order to form darts or tucks 86, thus giving the garment better fitting qualities through the bust-encircling section. Also,,the precise shape of these two blanks can be varied considerably without departing from the spirit of the invention, the essential thing being to provide an edge in the lower blank in each case which is joined to one of the downwardly disposed, upper edges in front lower blank 9, and the overlapping upper front portions of the garment may thus be gradually opened from time to time to increase the effective size of the garment. It will also be obvious that the triangular extension at the inner edge of blanks II and I3 which forms stitch lines 50 and I6 could be eliminated, all as is well known in the dressmaking art.

The foregoing embodiment of the invention shows one pattern which has been used effectively for the purpose stated. These patterns are suggestive only and are not to be taken in any limiting sense. In other words, many possible embodiments of the invention can be constructed by shaping the blanks to meet certain conditions of size, style and the like, and such changes may be made without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is: x

1. A maternity garment comprising attached waist and skirt portions, the front, skirt portion having a substantially V shaped upper edge, the upper front portion of the garment comprising a pair of partially overlapping blanks, each of which is formed with upwardly and outwardly inclined lower edges, each of such blanks being secured, along such lower edge, to one side of the v shaped upper edge of the front skirt portion, each of such blanks being further formed with an upwardly and inwardly inclined upper edge which is secured to the lower edge of the waist portion, the inner terminal of each of such blanks being secured around the body of the wearer in overlapping adjusted relationship, and shoulder straps secured to the upper edges of the garment.

2. A maternity garment comprising attached waist and skirt portions, the front skirt portion having downwardly and inwardly inclined upper edges of generally V shaped contour, the upper front portion of the garment including a pair of generally diamond-shaped overlapping panels, each being secured along one lower edge to one of such inclined upper edges of the skirt portion, an adjacent upper edge of each panel being secured to the adjoining waist portion, the remaining edges of each panel being free, means for securing the free edges in adjusted overlapping relationship, and shoulder straps secured to the upper edges of the garment.

3. A maternity garment comprising attached waist and skirt portions, the front skirt portion having downwardly and inwardly inclined upper edges of generally v shaped contour, and extending from points adjacent the waist line at the sides of the garment to a central point adjacent the crotch of the wearer, the upper front portion of the garment including a pair of generally diamond-shaped overlapping panels, each being secured along one lower edge to one of such inclined upper edges of the skirt portion, an adjacent upper edge of each panel being secured to the adjoining waist portion, the remaining edges of each panel being free, means for securing the free edges in adjusted overlapping relationship, and shoulder straps secured to the upper edges of the garment.

4. A maternity garment comprising attached waist and skirt portions, the front skirt portion having downwardly and inwardly inclined upper edges of generally V shaped contour, the upper front portion of the garment including apair of generally diamond-shaped overlapping panels, the grain line of the material in the diamondshaped panels lying on a bias relative to the front median line of the garment, each panel being secured along one lower edge to one of such inclined upper edges of the skirt portion, an adjacent upper edge of each panel being secured to the adjoining waist portion, the remaining edges of each panel being free, means for securing the free edges in adjusted overlapping relationship, and shoulder straps secured to the upper edges of the garment.

HARRIET S. KOHLER. 

